Otto pape



(No Model.)

0. PAPE.

BUTTON FOR BILLIARD COUNTERS. 110.411. 169. Patented Sept. 24, 1889.

N. PETERS. HMoLiMogrzpM-r. Wmhmglem D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OTTO PAPE, OF NVASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

BUTTON FOR BlLLlARD-COUNTERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 411,469, dated September 24, 1889.

Application filed January 18, 1889. Serial No. 296,731. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, O'r'ro PAPE, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Buttons for Billiard-Counters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to that class of gain ecounters in which perforated buttons are strung on a wire to be moved along one or more at a time according to the counts made by each player-such, for example, as billiard-counters. From excitement consequent to the game and other causes such buttons are frequently thrown along with such force as to be broken by concussion. Every fifth button is usually of a diiferent color from the main string of buttons, and every tenth button usually has a marked tag hung to it to aid in counting the buttons. Therefore when a button is broken from such a string another of the same color should be put in the same place. If the string has to be taken down and the buttons removed for this purpose, much time is consumed in properly re- 'difiiculty by providing buttons which may be inserted between the other buttons at any desired point and be secured upon the stringwire readily and without requiring much inechanieal skill.

To this end my invention consists ina perforated button parted through the perforation and mean-s for joining the two parts upon a wire as hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure I is a side elevation of a button, showing my invention in service in one of its simplest forms. Fig. II represents a similar button with its two parts separated in merchantable form ready to be joined in service. Fig. III is a perspective view of a modification of my invention with the two parts pivoted together and swung open ready for application. Fig. IV is an edgewise view of the said modification strung upon a wire with its two parts closed and secured together as in service. Figs. I and II show a common wooden button through which I have bored two small holes 6 edgewise, and have split it at 5 lengthwise its string-hole 7, transversely to the line of said holes 6.

8 represents a staple of tough, soft wire, which may be furnished separate from the button or inserted into one-half thereof, as shown in Fig. II. To apply this button, it is only necessary to place it in the desired position upon the stringwire, push the staple through the two parts, and bend the proj ecting ends of the staple down closely on the edge of the button, as shown at 9, Fig. I. The small wire-holes have very little weakening efiect on the wood of the button, and the wire staple fitting closely through it binds the parts together, so that such a button is full as strong as one from the same wood not thus parted.

In the modification shown in Figs. III and IV the parting is made at one edge of the string-hole 7, and the saw-kerf is occupied by two thicknesses of sheet metal 12 and 13, secured firmly to the faces of the respective parts, and the piece 12 fits down into the hole 7. The two parts are permanently pivoted together by a concealed rivet 14, so that they may swing apart in line of the string-hole.

15 is a pin-head or stud projecting from the face of the piece 12, and 16 is a slot in piece 13, adapted to receive the stud when the parts are closed, the head of the stud passing behind the plate 13 and holding the parts of the button closely face to face.

17 is a thin metallic lip projecting from the part 10, and adapted to be bent up against the side of the part 11 when closed to prevent further turning of the parts on their pivot. This modification is shown as a suggestion of a variety of ways in which the two parts of the button may be joined.

18 shows an eye in the staple 8, whereby the same may be utilized as a tag holder.

A single rivet, like one leg of the staple,

might answer in some cases; but I prefer the staple.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I believe to be new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is the following:

1. Agame-counter button perforated near its middle and parted through the perforation, and also perforated edgewise, in combination with a wire fitted to the saidedgewise perforation, and adapted to be bent at the edges of the button,substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination of a game-counter but ton perforated near its middle and parted from the said perforation to thecircumference, and also perforated edgewise across the said parting, and a wire adapted to fit the said edgewise perforation, substantially as shown and described.

OTTO PAPE. Witnesses:

W. X. STEVENS, THEo. MUNGEN. 

